Object Visibility

[maks]

You can animate the object material's opacity channel (or control it by expressions). If you have several materials on that object, you can create a rendergroup, parent the object under it and use the rendergroup's opacity channel, so that you don't have to manipulate the opacity of each single material. Hope that helps :)

[maks]

Hmm, actually for the use in an expression, I wonder why I can't see a material's opacity channel in the channel bloc of the command tab, and why the rendergroup doesn't show up there at all...:shrug:

[maks]

Ok, since the opacity channel isn't accessible in the Channels tab, you can use the setmotchan expression, like this: setmotchan(material,31,0) - 31 beeing the opacity channel. The last value sets the opacity, 0 = hidden, 1 = visible, you can control this value by another expression, or a slider, or whatever you want.
As for rendergroups, you actually have to attach a material to that group and set its operator to "after shading", then you can control this material the same way as above.
I don't know if there's a quicker way, but I don't believe so...

So, sorry for the long posts, I hope this helps now ;)

[maks]

Errrrr, not entierly true actually, setmotchan only operates integer values, so no smooth opacity blending possible... Ok, I shut up now, I'll let others continue here, before I completely confuse you...:rolleyes:

[maks]

Man, I begin to feel like a madman who's talking to himself :p
Scratch that last post, I was wrong - setmotchan actually *does* operate double values, but in a test that I did the render showed either 0 or 1, no inbetweens... Don't know why this doesn't work, maybe someone can answer this - I attached the test scene.

Daniel, for what you want to do this should work anyway...

[mpc823_99]

Thanks for the replies maks. On my system the surfaces show up in the channel list and from there you can select opacity. (Only after a lot of blank entries however - very strange). For objects I cannot select an opacity. What it appears you have done with the render groups is simialr to selecting a surface and setting the opacity. But I had never really played with render groups before, so thanks for pointing that out.

However, even with opacity set to 0, the shadows of the object show up. I was hoping there was a way through expressions to make the object not show up in the render at all, similar to setting the render boolean on the Render->Surfaces tab to false. Maybe there's not a way to do this?

Daniel

[maks]

Thanks for the replies maks. On my system the surfaces show up in the channel list and from there you can select opacity. (Only after a lot of blank entries however - very strange). For objects I cannot select an opacity. What it appears you have done with the render groups is simialr to selecting a surface and setting the opacity. But I had never really played with render groups before, so thanks for pointing that out.

However, even with opacity set to 0, the shadows of the object show up. I was hoping there was a way through expressions to make the object not show up in the render at all, similar to setting the render boolean on the Render->Surfaces tab to false. Maybe there's not a way to do this?

Daniel

Oh, you're right, the opacity channel is way down in the list, one can easily overlook it...:rolleyes:
I'm not sure what you mean by 'you cannot set opacity for objects' - you have to set the opacity for the obect's materials, or create a render group with a material and group the object underneath it.
Concerning Rendergroups, I actually noticed, that you can gradually blend the opacity on object materials, but apparently not on rendergroup materials. So, if you need a smooth blend, you'd have to apply each object material's opacity to the expression.

As for the shadows, have you checked "Transmissive Shdws" for your object?

[Sil3]

Man, I begin to feel like a madman who's talking to himself :p


Dont miss tomorrow another episode of Maks MONOLOGUE :scream:

Jk m8

[maks]

:blush::blush::blush:

I'm glad if it's at least entertaining...;)

[Sil3]

LOL

Entertaining and educational, keep those coming please :D

[dobermunk]

Between your avatar and the monologue, it feels a bit like being attacked by an army of cute red soldiers ;-)
Anyway - respect! I feel left behind!

[maks]

HAHAHA, in fact that's my secret strategy to confuse you all!!! :twisted:

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